Method And Apparatus For Forecasting Solar Radiation And Solar Power Production Using Synthetic Irradiance Imaging

ABSTRACT

In an embodiment, measurements are simulated of direct normal irradiance, diffuse horizontal and global horizontal irradiance from groups of two or more photovoltaic arrays and/or irradiance sensors which are located in close proximity to each other and which have different tilt and azimuth angles. Irradiance measurements derived from solar power system power measurements are combined with measurements made by irradiance sensors to synthesize an image of ground level global horizontal irradiance which can be used to create a vector describing motion of that image of irradiance in an area of interest. A sequence of these irradiance images can be transformed into a time series from which a motion vector can be derived. The motion vector can be applied to a current image of ground level irradiance and that image can be projected to a future point in time to provide a solar radiation forecast. These forecasts can be converted into forecasts of solar power system power in the area of interest.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/403,865, filed on May 30, 2013, which is the U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/US2013/043388, filed May 30, 2013, which designates the U.S., published in English, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/792,118, filed on Mar. 15, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/653,158, filed on May 30, 2012. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The installed base of solar energy power systems in general, and photovoltaic systems in particular, is growing rapidly around the world as a result of government policies and incentives, decreases in its installed cost, and increases in the cost of conventionally generated electricity. Solar irradiance is, on an annual basis, periodic and predictable. However on an hourly or sub-hourly basis, solar energy often intermittent and appears unpredictable. As an electrical generation technology solar energy has suffered the stigma, in the mainstream commercial energy community, of being unreliable and lacking the ability to be dispatched as and when it is needed. As increasing amounts of solar energy generating capacity are deployed, mechanisms are needed to reconcile the natural variations of the solar resource with the constant reliability requirements of the modern electrical grid, and energy trading requirements in those regions with deregulated energy markets. For system operators who must manage the dispatch of generation, the reserves and the transmission constraints of the grid, solar energy presents no operational problem as long as its contribution is a small percentage of the energy flowing through the system. However large amounts of solar energy, whether on the customer's side or on the supply side of the revenue meter, present a serious management challenge to the stability and reliability of the grid, as well as to the transactions of energy markets. Several recent technological developments are brought together in this technology that make it possible to forecast ground level irradiance, and thus solar energy production, across a region or utility service territory.

SUMMARY

In accordance with principles of the invention, a map or pattern or image of irradiance levels is generated in a region such as the county of Sacramento or the greater Boston area or some other, generally urban and suburban region, based on information from the power production of roof top PV systems. The area can have sections which do not have any PV systems, for example rural agricultural areas, and in those areas we can deploy more expensive, traditional forms of irradiance monitoring. The inventive approach leverages data available from existing PV systems. The form of the irradiance in the generated map is a combination of direct normal (beam component) and diffuse horizontal (scatter component). These two components can easily be combined to give global horizontal irradiance (global horizontal is the total irradiance seen looking up into the dome of the sky.) Global horizontal irradiance (GHI) cannot be decomposed into its direct and diffuse subcomponents without sophisticated measurement equipment, or without a detailed knowledge of the current meteorological conditions or without using a process of combining multiple differently oriented measurements such as we use in this approach. A reason to know direct normal irradiance (DNI) and diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI) is because if these two components are known and if the date, time and a location on the earth are known, the irradiance hitting any surface of any orientation at that location can be calculated. If the irradiance hitting a surface is known and if that surface is a solar generating systems, the electrical power that the system will produce at that moment in time can be calculated.

In one aspect, a sequence of these maps, patterns or images of ground level irradiance are generated and from that sequence a time series is formed. The time series is used to forecast a future map or pattern or image of irradiance. In an embodiment, the process is performed on a sub-hourly basis to create a near-real-time forecast. This forecast can be for a time horizon of up to three hours or more and can be in increments of five minutes or less. Many of the PV systems which are installed today have the capability to report their power data or be polled to get their power data. With that future map or pattern or image and knowledge of the characteristics of any solar power system in the area of that map or pattern or image the power produced by any such system can be calculated. The reporting from these systems, from a multitude of manufacturers, is asynchronous so the data is grouped into time stamped bins or frames through the following example procedure:

-   -   a) Collect data from PV systems, primarily via the internet,         indicating how much power they are generating at a particular         moment in time.     -   b) Group the data into bins or frames and apply a time stamp to         the bins thus roughly synchronizing the groups of data.     -   c) Calculate the irradiance hitting the surface of the solar         collector of the PV system based upon the efficiency with which         those systems convert irradiance into electrical power.     -   d) Create groups of two or more irradiance values from PV         systems and/or irradiance sensors whose collectors do not point         in the same directions (ones who do not have the same tilt and         azimuth angles) and which are in close proximity (e.g., this can         be data from a PV system on one roof and one from a neighbor's         house a block away.)     -   e) Using the groups of two or more irradiance values from PV         systems and/or irradiance sensors whose collectors do not point         in the same directions and using the “multi-pyranometer array”         approach, direct normal irradiance and diffuse horizontal         irradiance are calculated for the part of the map, pattern or         image where the house is located. Global horizontal is also         calculated.     -   f) If PV systems which measure their power production and which         have different orientations are not available in an area of the         map, pattern or image of interest, existing traditional         irradiance measurement devices may be accessed or traditional         irradiance measurement devices may be deployed.     -   g) The process of the last two steps is repeated until a map,         pattern or image of ground level direct normal irradiance,         diffuse horizontal and global horizontal is generated.     -   h) A sequence of these maps, patterns or images of ground level         direct normal irradiance, diffuse horizontal and global         horizontal is generated and from that sequence project or         forecast a map, pattern or image of ground level direct normal         irradiance, diffuse horizontal and global horizontal in the         future.     -   i) The forecast of ground level direct normal irradiance and         diffuse horizontal irradiance, along with knowledge of the         characteristics of solar power (PV systems or other solar power         technologies) systems is used, to calculate the future power         production of those solar power systems.

This disclosure describes a method and apparatus for collecting irradiance data across a region of interest within a utility grid. It describes a method and apparatus for forecasting irradiance levels and solar power production in that region of interest. This method entails a network of solar power systems, irradiance sensors and other irradiance sensitive devices whose power production data and solar data can be collected in real-time and near-real-time and then processed into a pattern which indicates the current state of ground level irradiance across a geographic region of interest. These irradiance levels are then used to calculate future power levels from solar power generating plants in the area of the network. The method and apparatus described herein uses measurements of solar power system electrical output to simulate the irradiance incident upon the solar power array. This incident irradiance is referred to as global tilt irradiance (GTI) or also plane of array irradiance (POA). The simulated values of irradiance from solar power systems are combined with irradiance values measured via traditional methods, such as silicon or thermopile pyranometers or other means, to create a map or pattern or image of irradiance “pixels” in a gridded sensing network in the region of interest. From the irradiance data collected from this synthesized array of power systems and sensors direct normal irradiance (DNI), diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI) and global horizontal irradiance (GHI) are simulated.

The synthesized irradiance monitoring array data are used to create a sequence of maps or patterns or images of ground level DNI, DHI, and GHI. From a series of these images a velocity vector of changing irradiance on the ground in an area of interest is derived. This velocity vector, in combination with forecast and current data describing cloud cover, ambient temperature and other meteorological parameters, is applied to the current image of ground level DNI, DHI, and GHI, and is used to forecast an image of direct normal irradiance and diffuse horizontal irradiance in the geographic area of interest. The forecast DNI and DHI values are then used to calculate future global tilt irradiance for solar power systems in the region of interest. The forecast GTI and temperature data, in combination with known characteristics of solar power systems in the area of interest, are then used to simulate hourly and sub-hourly forecasts of solar power production.

Knowledge of changing irradiance levels in a region can be used to create minute by minute forecasts of changing power contributions to the grid from distributed solar power generating systems for use by electric utilities to provide increased situational awareness of the electrical power system for grid management purposes. The same information can be used to assess the performance of solar power systems, for operational management of solar power production facilities, for use for energy trading or for surveying the solar resource in a particular area within the region of interest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 which includes a plurality of PV generating units, data acquisition system which monitor PV generating units, and or irradiance meters, in a gridded network 110, in a region of interest 120 served by an electric utility whose data are received, stored and processed a central computer 140.

FIG. 2A shows examples of solar power system electronic components which have the capability to measure the power produced by a solar power system and the capability to communicate that power production data to a remote computer.

FIG. 2B is a depiction of an example of an irradiance sensor 270 which has the capability to communicate with a central computer via wireless signal or other means.

FIG. 2C is an image of a weather monitoring station 275 which has the capability to monitor irradiance and other meteorological parameters and the ability to communicate with a central computer via the internet, power line carrier, wireless signal or other means.

FIG. 2D is an example of a central computer processor 140.

FIG. 2E is an example of a flow diagram 280 of the overview of the irradiance and solar power forecasting method.

FIG. 3 is an example diagram 300 of the constituent parts of an irradiance sensing network.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram 400 describing the configuration and installation of the constituent parts of an example irradiance sensing network.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram 500 describing an example the collection, time stamping, synchronization and storage of irradiance data from the sensing network.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram example process of creating an image of ground level global horizontal irradiance using a clear sky model for the date, time and location.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E and 7F are a flow diagram and example matrices which describe an example process of calculating a ground level irradiance image velocity vector.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram which describes an example process of forecasting a future location of a ground level irradiance image.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram example process of forecasting electrical production of solar power systems based upon the location of the forecast image of irradiance and the physical characteristics of the systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present disclosure that provides a system 100 for predicting direct normal, diffuse horizontal, and global horizontal irradiance. The system is defined over a geographic region of interest 120. The region of interest 120 is subdivided into a gridded pattern 110 comprised of grid cells. Each grid cell 130 in the system 100 includes any or all of one or more of an irradiance monitoring device which can measure direct normal irradiance and diffuse horizontal irradiance and which can communicate with a central computer, and or groups of two or more of any combination of the following which have different tilt and or azimuth angles and which are in close physical proximity and which have communications capability to a central computer, of an irradiance monitoring device, a PV generating unit which can measure and report its energy production, a kilowatt-hour meter which measures and reports the energy production of a PV generating unit, a data acquisition system which measures and reports the ac production of a PV generating unit, and or a data acquisition system which measures and reports the dc production of a PV generating unit.

Collectively the levels of direct normal, diffuse horizontal, and global horizontal irradiance in the grid cells 130 form pixels in an image in a gridded network 110, in a region of interest 120 served by an electric utility by electrical transmission or distribution systems. This irradiance data is received, stored and processed a central computer 140 to form forecasts of irradiance.

FIG. 2A is a depiction 200 of examples of PV generating units which can measure and report their energy production and have communications capability to a central computer. Examples of such systems 200 which may have power measurement capability and communications capability include micro-inverters and AC modules 210, DC optimizer devices 220, smart meters used to measure PV system output 230, string inverters and central inverters 240, and data acquisition systems (DAS) which measure either ac power output 250 and or dc power output 260. These type of devices can report average or instantaneous power production. Each of the PV generating units 200 has an irradiance sensitive surface 205.

FIG. 2B is an example of an autonomous irradiance sensor system 270, comprised of an irradiance sensitive device and a wireless transmitter 271 and a wireless receiver device 272, which can report measured irradiance either wirelessly or by other means to a central computer.

FIG. 2C sensor 275 is an example of an irradiance monitoring device which can measure direct normal irradiance and diffuse horizontal irradiance and which can communicate with a central computer. In the embodiment of the system 100 for predicting direct normal, diffuse horizontal, and global horizontal irradiance across a region of interest this type of device may be used in the grid cells which do not have or two or more of any combination of an irradiance monitoring device 270 or a PV generating unit such as 210, 220, 230, 240, 250 or 260 which can measure and report its energy production and which have different tilt and or azimuth angles and are physically adjacent and which have communications capability to a central computer.

FIG. 2D is a component of a system 100 which includes a central computer processor 140, a database 195, a weather data module 145, a solar irradiance data module 175, a solar electric generating system characterization module 150, a connection to an outside weather service provider 155 and solar power system production and status reporting 160, and an output device 185. The central computer processor accesses solar power system production data and irradiance data through connections to the internet 170, wireless receivers 165, by direct wire or power line carrier 180, cellular modem 190, or other means.

This system provides a process, apparatus and software program for organizing ground-based irradiance and meteorological hardware measurement devices, satellite weather data, weather forecasting software, solar energy production data, and solar energy production simulation software, that enables the forecasting and monitoring of solar irradiance and solar power production in an area of interest, which can be created from the following main components or modules using the following general steps:

-   -   1) In FIG. 2E, 280, a network of solar power systems with         communications capability, ground-based irradiance and         meteorological measurement devices with remote communications         capability, satellite weather data sources and weather forecast         data sources is identified.     -   2) In FIG. 2E, 282, a software program for creating synchronized         data frames from diverse asynchronous irradiance and solar power         data sources is run.     -   3) In FIG. 2E a software program for creating an image of ground         level irradiance over the region defined by the irradiance         sensing network 283, whose raw irradiance values are normalized         to one (1) using clear sky model is run.     -   4) In FIG. 2E a software program 284 for recognizing a velocity         vector of ground level GHI, defined by two or more sequential         ground level irradiance images, is run.     -   5) In FIG. 2E a software program which uses a current image of         ground level irradiance in combination with the velocity vector         defined in step 4 above to forecast the position of the ground         level irradiance 285 image is run.     -   6) In FIG. 2E one or more software programs which use         measurements or forecasts of ground level irradiance, in         combination with known characteristics of solar power systems,         to calculate the irradiance incident upon the surface of the         solar power system 286, and then calculate the power output of         the system is run.     -   7) In FIG. 2E the process is repeated for the next time step         until sunset 287. At sunrise the process starts again.

FIG. 3 is an example of some combinations of two or more of an irradiance monitoring device 270 or a PV generating unit such as 210, 220, 230, 240, 250 or 260 which can measure and report its energy production and which have different tilt and or azimuth angles and are physically adjacent and which have communications capability to a central computer and are located in the gridded pattern 110 comprised of grid cells in the area of interest.

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating a process, apparatus and software program for organizing ground-based irradiance and meteorological hardware measurement devices, satellite weather data, weather forecasting software, solar energy production simulation software, and electrical grid load forecasting software, that enables the measurement and forecasting of solar irradiance and solar power production in an area of interest, which can be created through the following steps:

-   -   1) A geographic XY grid coordinate system 400 for the area of         interest for solar power measurement and forecasting is defined         based upon a grid 405 which is coincident with one or more         meteorological forecasting systems gridded projection. Each of         the grid cell is labeled using the latitude and longitude of the         geometric centroid of the cell.     -   2) The solar power generation systems within the region being         considered, are surveyed 410 and their physical parameters, such         as system size, tilt angle(s), azimuth angle(s), tracking         type(s), equipment types, shading obstructions, latitude,         longitude, elevation, and other features, are recorded and their         features placed in a database as illustrated in FIG. 2D, 195.         The survey of solar power systems in the area of interest also         identifies any which have power monitoring systems which have         the ability to communicate the value of their power production         to a central computer via the internet, power line carrier,         wireless signal or other means on a second by second basis or on         a minute by minute basis or on a multiple minute interval, such         as every five minutes, or on an hour by hour basis. The owners         of the solar power production data are approached and use of the         data is requested as illustrated in FIG. 4 420.     -   3) A survey of the area of interest is conducted to determine         the existence and locations of pairs of solar power systems         which are in close proximity and whose solar power arrays have         different tilts and/or azimuth angles 410 and which have a         system or systems for measuring their solar power production and         which have the ability to communicate the value of their power         production to a central computer. A computer database of the         pairs of solar power systems in the area of interest is created         as illustrated in FIG. 2D 195.     -   4) The geographic XY grid defined in step 1 above is evaluated         and pairs of solar power systems which were identified in step 3         and which lie near the geometric centroid of each grid cell are         associated with individual grid cells in the area of interest is         created as illustrated in FIG. 4 430.     -   5) A survey of the area of interest is conducted to determine         the existence and locations of solar irradiance monitoring         stations which have the ability to communicate the value of         their irradiance measurements to a central computer via the         internet, power line carrier, wireless signal or other means         440. The solar monitoring stations are categorized based upon         their ability to report any and all of the following: direct         normal irradiance, diffuse horizontal, global horizontal         irradiance or the irradiance measured at a unique tilt and         azimuth angle. A computer database of the solar monitoring         systems in the area of interest is created as illustrated in         FIG. 2D 195.     -   6) The geographic XY grid defined in step 1 above is evaluated         and solar irradiance monitoring stations which were identified         in step 5 and which lie near the geometric centroid of any grid         cell are associated with those individual grid cells in the         coordinate system as illustrated in FIG. 4, 440.     -   7) The owners of the irradiance data for the monitoring systems         which were identified in step 6 are approached and use of the         data is requested as illustrated in FIG. 4, 450.     -   8) The geographic XY grid defined in step 1 is evaluated and         grids cells which lack either pairs of solar power systems         identified in step 3 above or solar monitoring station         identified in step 6 above are marked for installation of         wireless transmitting irradiance sensors in the “vacant”         locations as illustrated in FIG. 4, 460.     -   9) One or more transmitting irradiance sensors, illustrated in         FIG. 2B, capable of sending digitized radio frequency         transmissions of irradiance and temperature measurements to a         central computer, are installed in the grid cells which do not         have either pairs of solar power systems identified in step 3         above or solar monitoring station identified in step 6. The         transmitting sensors label each digitized measurement with a         unique station number. The transmitting irradiance sensors are         installed near the geometric centroid of grid cell 470.     -   10) One or more radio frequency receiving devices 480,         illustrated in FIG. 2B, capable of receiving continuous         digitized irradiance and temperature measurement signals from         the transmitters described in step 9 is installed in the region         of interest. They are connected to the internet via an internet         portal such as a computer local area network or broadband         internet connection on a wired or wireless network.     -   11) A process collects the transmissions arriving over the         internet from the radio frequency receiving device described in         step 10. The process maintains the unique station number labels         on the transmissions. The process labels each unique         transmission with a timestamp and stores multiple sensor         transmissions from multiple grid cells in a database as         illustrated in FIG. 4, 490.

FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram of a process, apparatus and software program for collecting, synchronizing and storing solar power and irradiance data from a sensing network in an area of interest, which can be created through the following steps:

-   -   1) A process 500 collects the transmissions arriving to a         computer with a connection to the internet or other         communications means from a plurality of solar power systems         identified in FIG. 1. Pairs of solar power systems which are in         close proximity and whose solar power arrays have different         tilts and/or azimuth angles are identified from the database as         illustrated in FIG. 5, 520.     -   2) A software program for creating synchronized data frames from         diverse asynchronous irradiance and solar power data sources is         run FIG. 5, 540.     -   3) The instantaneous values of the power production of the         paired solar power systems described in step 2 are labeled with         a timestamp and stored in a database by the program described in         step 1 as illustrated in FIG. 5, 560, 580.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a process 600, apparatus and software program for the creation of a normalized image of ground level global horizontal irradiance (GHI) from solar power system power data and irradiance data, from an irradiance sensing network whose data has been stored to a database, which can be created through the following steps:

-   -   1) Query the database for the first instance in a daily cycle of         a synchronized data frame of solar power system power data and         irradiance data from the region of interest 610.     -   2) Query the database for the solar power system electrical         characteristics and the system electrical parameters for solar         power systems in the region of interest 620.     -   3) Calculate GTI for each solar power system in the region of         interest using the solar power system electrical characteristics         and the system electrical parameters for solar power systems and         the solar power production data for each system of interest         using the ac power output or dc power input of a solar power         inverter 430. For example, for a photovoltaic power system to         make this conversion knowledge of the inverter dc to ac         conversion efficiency (μ_(inv)), module efficiency (μ_(module)),         array system losses (μ_(sys)), array area and temperature are         necessary. The process of converting an AC power measurement to         a value of incident irradiance can be represented as a transfer         function, H(p). This transfer function represents the efficiency         of the entire solar power system for converting incident         irradiance into ac power. (This is an idealized model. A         preferred embodiment uses the Sandia Photovoltaic Array         Performance Model for the photovoltaic module conversion of         irradiance to dc power. Other models can be used. Though not         shown here, for all solar power module conversion models cell         temperature is required. For another embodiment system         parameters, such as wire resistance losses in both the dc and ac         systems may be included. In the equations shown here all system         losses are combined and represented as μ_(sys).)

GTI = H(P_(ac)) $P_{dc} = \frac{P_{ac}}{\mu_{inv}*\mu_{sys}}$ ${GTI} = \frac{P_{dc}}{\left( {{Array}\mspace{14mu} {Area}*\mu_{module}} \right)}$ ${GTI} = \frac{P_{ac}}{\left( {{Array}\mspace{14mu} {Area}*\mu_{module}} \right)*\mu_{inv}*\mu_{sys}}$ H(p) = GTI/P_(ac)

-   -   For photovoltaic systems which are mounted horizontally GTI=GHI.     -   This same process can be applied to systems which measure dc         power, Pdc, directly, such as dc optimizers, by using the         equation:

${GTI} = \frac{P_{dc}}{\left( {{Array}\mspace{14mu} {Area}*\mu_{module}} \right)}$

-   -   4) The values of DNI, DHI and GHI are then calculated from at         least two values of global tilt irradiance found in step 3. The         calculation of DNI, DHI and GHI from GTI can be done using two         simultaneously simulated values of GTI taken from solar power         systems in close proximity and which possess similar, small,         values of ground reflected irradiance. In the ideal form of the         model below ground reflected irradiance or albedo is ignored. θ         is the angle of incidence between the tilted surface for which         GHI is being evaluated and the rays of the sun. Cos θ is         derived:

cos θ=cos α cos(a _(s) −a _(w))sin β+sin α cos β

-   -   Where:     -   β is the elevation angle, from a horizontal plane, of the titled         surface for which GHI is being evaluated.         -   α is the solar altitude angle.         -   a_(s) is the solar azimuth angle.         -   a_(w) is the azimuth angle of the plane.     -   At least two differently oriented plane surfaces are needed to         derive values for DNI and DHI.

GTI₁=DNI cos θ₁+DHI(1+cos β₁)/2

GTI₂=DNI cos θ₂+DHI(1+cos β₂)/2

-   -   θ₁, θ₂, β₁ and β₂ are known physical characteristics of the         (minimum) two solar power systems. With knowledge of these         parameters we solve simultaneous equations for DNI and DHI.

GTI_(i)=DNI*cos θ_(i)+DHI*R _(d,i)+ρ_(i)*GHI*R _(r,i)

-   -   Where:     -   R_(di) is the sky diffuse ratio at site # i or tilt # i     -   R_(ri) is the surface reflectance diffuse ratio at site # i or         tilt # i     -   ρ_(i) is the foreground albedo at site # i or tilt # i     -   A_(i) is the array azimuth at site # i or tilt # i     -   and R_(ri), ρ_(i), and A_(i) are known, surveyed characteristics         of the sites or arrays,     -   and R_(di) is a parameter derived from local meteorological         data.

GHI = DHI + DNI * cos   z ${DHI} = \frac{{A_{1}*{GTI}_{2}} - {A_{2}*{GTI}_{1}}}{{A_{1}*B_{2}} - {A_{2}*B_{1}}}$ A_(i) = cos  θ_(i) + ρ * R_(r, i) * cos  z B_(i) = R_(d, i) + ρ_(i) * R_(r, i) R_(d, i) ≈ (1 + cos  β_(i))/2 ${DNI} = {\frac{{GTI}_{1}}{A_{1}} - \frac{{GTI}_{2} - {\frac{A_{2}}{A_{1}}*{GTI}_{1}}}{\frac{B_{2}}{B_{1}} - \frac{A_{2}}{A_{1}}}}$

-   -   GHI is then calculated as:

GHI=DNI cos θ+DHI

-   -   The resulting DNI, DHI and GHI values are place in a database.     -   5) A sky clear irradiance model, such as the Bird Clear Sky         Model, is run for each date and time for each measurement, for         each latitude and longitude of each grid cell in the irradiance         sensing network 640. The clear sky GHI results are stored in the         database.     -   6) Each value of GHI associated with a grid cell in the sensing         network, whether calculated in step 3 above or whether measured         directly by one of the irradiance measurement devices, is         divided by the clear sky value calculated in step 5 resulting in         a normalized irradiance index as seen in FIG. 6, 650. The         normalized GHI values are stored in the database 660.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E and 7F: shows a flow diagram of a process, apparatus and software program for determining a velocity vector from ground level irradiance images, which can be created through the following steps:

-   -   1) The database is queried 710 and a sequence of normalized         ground level irradiance sensor data is taken and converted to         matrix form 715. FIG. 7B is a hypothetical 6×6 matrix         representing a 36 contiguous normalized GHI sensor block with         stored measured irradiance values. We then create a sequence of         matrices which corresponds to a time series of instantaneous         images of normalized GHI levels measured by the network. FIG. 7C         illustrates a sequential pair of matrices, I_(tn) and I_(tn+1),         selected from the database 720.     -   2) The elements of the first of the two matrices (I_(tn)) are         shifted in 45 degree increments, by one geographic increment         such as a kilometer, to create a series of shifted matrices,         I_(tn*sm) 725. In this example the angular increments are 45         degrees (45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, 315 degrees) from the first         position, which is a shift eastward, however this angular value         could be any increment of degrees or fractions of a degree. The         arrows associated with each matrix represent the angle and         direction to which the matrix values were shifted. In this         example a total of eight permutations of the original matrix are         created as seen in FIG. 7D. In the example in FIG. 7D the number         arrows illustrate a shift of the matrix elements in the         following directions: 721 is shifted to the right, 721 is         shifted 45 degrees counterclockwise, 723 is shifted 90 degrees         counterclockwise, 724 is shifted 135 degrees counterclockwise,         725 is shifted 180 degrees counterclockwise, 726 is shifted 225         degrees counterclockwise, 727 is shifted 270 degrees         counterclockwise, and 728 is shifted 315 degrees         counterclockwise. In terms of the geographic area to which these         values correspond the pattern described by the matrix depicts a         change in the ground level irradiance pattern in the following         compass directions: 721 is shifted eastward, 721 is shifted         northeastward, 723 is shifted northward, 724 is shifted         northwestward, 725 is shifted westward, 726 is shifted         southwestward, 727 is shifted southward, and 728 is shifted         southeastward.     -   3) The shifted matrices (I_(tn*s1) through I_(tn&s8)) 735 are         subtracted from the second matrix in the original sequence of         matrices (I_(tn+1)) 730. This forms eight “difference” matrices         as illustrated by examples in FIGS. 7D and 740.     -   4) Ignoring the boundary rows and columns (first and last row;         first and last column represented by “Xs”), the absolute values         of all of the central row and column elements are calculated and         summed for each difference matrix 745. For this example FIG. 7E         is the difference matrix for I_(tn*s1) and I_(tn+2). The         difference matrix for I_(tn*s2) and I_(tn+1) is represented in         FIG. 7E. The difference matrix for I_(tn*s2) and I_(tn+1), which         the sum of the absolute values of central elements, is the         lowest value amongst the eight cases, as illustrated by FIG. 7F,         and is the one which “correlates” (the term “correlate” is used         here in a broad sense, not a strictly mathematical sense) best         to the shift in the pattern of ground level irradiance between         time t_(n) and time t_(n+1) 750.     -   5) The shift in the pattern of ground level irradiance can be         represented as a velocity vector defined by the coordinates of         any of the origin elements and the terminus elements and the         time increment between t_(n) and time t_(n+1). This vector can         then be applied to the irradiance image I_(tn+1) to forecast a         future irradiance image, represented here in matrix form,         I_(tn+2).     -   6) A feedback loop can be included in the process to make         successive corrections to the testing step 4 above. In addition         wind speed and direction and other meteorological parameters may         be included in the model.

FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram of a process 800, apparatus and software program for forecasting ground level DNI and DHI, which can be created through the following steps:

-   -   1) Retrieve the most recently stored values of DNI and DHI from         the database for the daily cycle. In FIG. 8 these values of DNI         and DHI are illustrated as occurring at time t_(n+1) 820.     -   2) Retrieve the irradiance velocity vector for time t_(n+1) 820.     -   3) Shift the values of DNI and DHI for time t_(n+1) in the         direction and magnitude of the irradiance image velocity vector         840.     -   4) Label the shifted DNI and DHI values with their new locations         as DNI_(forecast) and DHI_(forecast) at time t_(n+2).     -   5) The forecast ground level DNI_(forecast) and DHI_(forecast)         for each site in the area of interest is written to a database         850.

FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram of a process 900, apparatus and software program for forecasting energy production from solar power systems in the region of interest, which can be created through the following steps:

-   -   1) Query the database for the current ambient temperature from         meteorological forecasts and solar power system electrical         characteristics and the system electrical parameters for solar         power systems in the region of interest 910.         -   2) Retrieve the forecast values of DNI_(forecast) and             DHI_(forecast) for the latitude and longitude of the solar             power system to be modeled. In FIG. 9 these forecast values             occur at time t_(n+2) 940.     -   3) Calculate forecast global tilt irradiance (GTI) by:

GTI_(forecast)=DNI_(forecast) cos θ+DHI_(forecast)(1+cos β)/2

-   -   Where θ is the angle of incidence between the tilted surface of         the solar power system collector and the sun and β is the         elevation angle of the titled surface 960.     -   4) Calculate the power output of a solar power system using the         forecast irradiance incident upon the surface of the solar array         (global tilt irradiance or GTI), the temperature, and the solar         power system electrical characteristics. For example, to         simulate the ac power production of a photovoltaic system,         knowledge of the inverter dc to ac conversion efficiency         (μ_(inv)), module efficiency (μ_(module)), array system losses         (μ_(sys)), array area and cell temperature are necessary. (This         is an idealized model. The preferred embodiment of this         invention uses the Sandia Photovoltaic Array Performance Model         for the photovoltaic module conversion of irradiance to dc         power. Other models can be used. Though not shown here, for all         PV module conversion models cell temperature is required. For         another embodiment system parameters, such as wire resistance         losses in both the dc and ac systems will be included. In the         equations shown here all system losses are combined and         represented as μ_(sys).)

P _(dc)=GTI*Array Area*μ_(module)

P _(ac)=P_(dc)*μ_(inv)*μ_(sys)

P _(ac)=GTI*Array Area*μ_(module)*μ_(inv)*μ_(sys)

-   -   Other solar power systems can be modeled in a similar manner         980.     -   5) For solar power systems which are constructed of more than         one tilt an azimuth angle, dc power (Pdc) will be calculated for         each surface.     -   6) The total ac power of a collection of solar power systems can         be calculated as the sum of the instantaneous dc powers times         the system losses and inverter losses. The calculation of ac         power, Pac, from dc power, Pdc, is done with the application of         system losses to the dc power. In this idealized model, though         other factors such as wire losses, shading and soiling apply,         the system losses are represented solely as inverter efficiency         losses, μinv.

P _(ac)=μ_(sys)*μ_(inv) *ΣP _(dc)

-   -   7) The forecast solar power system production for each site in         the area of interest is written to a database 980.

It should be understood that the block, flow, and network diagrams may include more or fewer elements, be arranged differently, or be represented differently. It should be understood that implementation may dictate the block, flow, and network diagrams and the number of block, flow, and network diagrams illustrating the execution of embodiments of the invention.

It should be understood that elements of the block, flow, and network diagrams described above may be implemented in software, hardware, or firmware. In addition, the elements of the block, flow, and network diagrams described above may be combined or divided in any manner in software, hardware, or firmware. If implemented in software, the software may be written in any language that can support the embodiments disclosed herein. The software may be stored on any form of non-transitory computer readable medium, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), flash memory, hard drive, and so forth. In operation, a general purpose or application specific processor loads and executes the software in a manner well understood in the art.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: collecting data, which is based on irradiance incident upon a surface, from a plurality of irradiance sensitive devices in a geographic area subdivided into a gridded pattern comprised of grid cells, each irradiance sensitive device having an irradiance sensitive surface, and each grid cell comprising a group of two or more irradiance sensitive devices whose respective irradiance sensitive surfaces have differing tilt and azimuth angles; calculating on a computer processor irradiance incident upon the plurality of irradiance sensitive surfaces from the collected data; combining values of calculated incident irradiance from the two or more irradiance sensitive devices within the groups; and calculating solar radiation from the combined values of incident irradiance.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: defining a solar radiation map by defining a grid of grid cells on the geographic area and associating values of the calculated solar radiation with particular individual grid cells.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting data includes: defining time frames; receiving asynchronous data which is proportional to irradiance incident upon a surface; applying time stamps to the asynchronous data to match the time stamp of the nearest defined time frame.
 4. The method of claim 2 further comprising: creating a time series of the solar radiation maps; deriving a velocity vector from the time series of solar radiation maps; and forecasting a future location of a solar radiation map based on a current solar radiation map and the velocity vector.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting data includes: collecting power production data from a plurality of PV generating units which can measure and report energy production and which have communications capability to a central computer; or collecting power production data from a plurality of kilowatt-hour meters which meter output of PV generating units, and which have communications capability to a central computer; or collecting power production data from a plurality of data acquisition systems which monitor PV generating units, and which have communications capability to a central computer.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting data includes: collecting irradiance data from a plurality of irradiance meters which have communications capability to a central computer; or collecting irradiance data from a combination of PV generating units, kilowatt-hour meters which meter the output of PV generating units, and data acquisition systems which monitor PV generating units.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating irradiance incident upon the plurality of irradiance sensitive surfaces rom the collected data includes: collecting data indicating the power produced by a PV generating unit; retrieving characteristics of the PV generating unit from a database; deriving power produced by the PV generating unit based on the area of the PV generating unit's collecting surface and the system efficiency.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating solar radiation from the combined values of incident irradiance includes: using a multi-pyranometer array method to solve at least two equations with at least two unknowns to calculate direct normal and diffuse horizontal irradiance; calculating global horizontal irradiance from direct normal and diffuse horizontal irradiance.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: associating global horizontal, direct normal and diffuse horizontal irradiance values with cells of a grid defined on the geographic area; and normalizing the gridded values of global horizontal irradiance by: calculating clear sky model global horizontal value for each grid cell latitude and longitude, and each day and minute in the time series; and dividing each grid cell global horizontal value by the clear sky model value of global horizontal irradiance.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising deriving a velocity vector associated with the normalized gridded global horizontal irradiance image time series by creating matrices of normalized gridded global horizontal irradiance values for sequential gridded images: creating a plurality of shifted matrices from the first matrix by shifting the elements of the first matrix by one element in a clockwise or counterclockwise directions until all of the possible options, for a given step size, have been performed; subtracting each of the shifted matrices from the second matrix and storing the resulting difference matrices in computer memory; calculating the absolute values of the elements in the resulting difference matrices; summing the absolute values of the elements of the resulting difference matrices and selecting the result with the lowest value; and calculating the velocity vector using the time between the first and second matrices and distance and direction between the elements of the first matrix and the lowest value shifted matrix.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising creating a forecast grid of global horizontal, direct normal and diffuse horizontal irradiance by: creating a matrix of global horizontal, direct normal and diffuse horizontal irradiance image values for the current grid of global horizontal irradiance values; multiplying the current matrix of global horizontal, direct normal and diffuse horizontal irradiance values by the derived velocity vector; mapping the forecast matrix of global horizontal, direct normal and diffuse horizontal irradiance values to the associated geographic surface; and, optionally, estimating PV power production values in the geographic area based upon the forecast grid.
 12. A system comprising: a computer processor configured to execute: a collecting module for collecting data, which is based on irradiance incident upon a surface, from a plurality of irradiance sensitive devices in a geographic area subdivided into a gridded pattern comprised of grid cells, each irradiance sensitive device having an irradiance sensitive surface, and each grid cell comprising a group of two or more irradiance sensitive devices whose respective irradiance sensitive surfaces have differing tilt and azimuth angles; an irradiance module for calculating irradiance incident upon the plurality of irradiance sensitive surfaces from the collected data; a combining module for combining values of calculated incident irradiance from the two or more irradiance sensitive devices within the groups; and a radiation module for calculating solar radiation from the combined values of incident irradiance.
 13. The system of claim 12 further comprising: a map module for defining a solar radiation map by defining a grid of grid cells on the geographic area and associating values of the calculated solar radiation with particular individual grid cells; and, optionally, a time series module for creating a time series of the solar radiation maps; a vector module for deriving a velocity vector from the time series of solar radiation maps; and a forecasting module for forecasting a future location of a solar radiation map based on a current solar radiation map and the velocity vector.
 14. The system of claim 12 wherein collecting data includes: defining time frames; receiving asynchronous data which is proportional to irradiance incident upon a surface; applying time stamps to the asynchronous data to match the time stamp of the nearest defined time frame.
 15. A computer readable storage medium containing a set of instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising: collecting data, which is based on irradiance incident upon a surface, from a plurality of irradiance sensitive devices in a geographic area subdivided into a gridded pattern comprised of grid cells, each irradiance sensitive device having an irradiance sensitive surface, and each grid cell comprising a group of two or more irradiance sensitive devices whose respective irradiance sensitive surfaces have differing tilt and azimuth angles; calculating on a computer processor irradiance incident upon the plurality of irradiance sensitive surfaces from the collected data; combining values of calculated incident irradiance from the two or more irradiance sensitive devices within the groups; and calculating solar radiation from the combined values of incident irradiance. 